Amusement-wheel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H H. PATTEE. AMUSEMENT WHEEL.

No. 583,121. Patented May 25,1897.

" ju eiztbr Nb Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. H. PATTEE.

AMUSEMENT WHEEL.

No. 583,121. Patented May 25, 1897.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT H. PATTEE, OF IVASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTIITO CARL H. FAST, 0F PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMUSEMENT-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 583,121, dated May 25,1897. Application filed May 7, 1896. Serial No. 590.601. (No model.)

bination therewith a chute-shooting arrangement.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, novel, and effectivecombination of mechanical parts which will permit a coasting'or shootingcar to be suddenly precipitated along the arc of the circumference of alarge rotary wheel in like manner as if it were being thrust down achute or inclined way. The passengers upon an amusement-roundabout ofthis kind, which is propelled obviously with great celerity, will enjoyall the exhilaration of motion incident to the rapid shooting of a cardown a chute, and combined therewith many other novel and enjoyablesensations incident to the peculiar movement of the car upon the Wheelsperiphery, the rotation of the wheel, the splashing of a watercoursearranged in conjunction with the wheel and adapted to be struck by themoving car, and other characteristics too numerous to mention.

The invention therefore consists, essentially, in the construction,arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will behereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved observation-wheel and shooting oar. Fig. 2is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the same, showingthe water-tank within which the lowest portion of the wheels peripherymoves. Fig. 3 is likewise a partial sectional side elevation of thewheel, showing a body of water carried by the rim thereof and showinglikewise a car which is in position to slide down the incline of theFig. 7 isa bottom plan view of the same.

peripheral arc. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of myimproved wheel, show ing the car at the lowest portion of the peripheryof the wheelat the point where it passes through the Water, which isarranged to be carried Within said peripheryin like manner as issuggested in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of thewheels periphery, showing the car in partial end elevation. Fig. 6 is aside elevational View of the car or boat. Fig. 8 is a sectionalelevational view of a modified form of my improved combined wheel andshooting boat.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe different figures of the drawings.

In carrying my invention into practical effeet I provide a large rotarywheel. It is only necessary that the wheel should be stoutly braced andconstructed on correct principles in order that it may have sufficientstrength for the purpose for which it is intended.

A designates the wheel. In the example shown in the drawings this Wheelhas the shaft (1, which is journaled in bearings in the side frames D D.Wheel A has the rim B and the spokes A A. It must be clearly understood,however, that the wheel illustrated is simply presented by way ofexample, and that in actual practice I reserve the liberty of buildingit in any way that will afford a rotary structure of the necessarystrength, the spokes, cross -beams, the rim, the shafting, and the sidesupporting frames, together with the other necessary mechanical parts,being all related and arranged in such a way as to combine cheapness,strength, and efficiency, and make the wheel what is needed for thepurpose specified.

The rim B is trough-shaped, as shown in Fig. 5, the trough being of anysuitable form or curvature and of any desired size. In the form of Wheelshown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 the lowermost portion ,of the trough-shapedrim 5 and that different portions of the rim will I00 thereforesuccessively contain the body of water referred to. In the form of theinvention shown in Fig. 2 the receptacle J, stationary and independentof the wheel A, is provided for containing a body of water, and throughthis receptacle rotates the rim of the wheel, so that the same result isattained as in Figs. 3, -t, and 5namely, that of providin g one portionof the whecls periphery with a comparatively stationary body of fluid orliquid. Furthermore, it is to be particularly observed that theperiphery of the wheel is provided at certain points with tunnels O O,which tunnels permit the passage through them of a body moving along thetroughshaped rim of the wheel. The tunnels are simply elongated andclosed compartments on the inner face of the rim B of the wheel, andthey may obviously be of greater or less length. The greater the lengththe darker will be the interior of said tunnels. I find it convenient toplace at least two of these tunnels upon the periphery of the wheel, andthree or four or even more may be employed to advantage. \Vhen the wheelin its rotation brings a tunnel to the lowermost position, it ismanifest that the water will enter and pass through the said tunnel.

E designates a boat, ear, or other suitable vehicle which is adapted tomove by gravity within the trough-shaped rim. One way of permitting andencouraging such movement is to provide tracks, as l) 1), within saidrim which are engaged by lateral wheels or rollers e 6, arranged on theside of the boat or car. I do not, however, wish to be restricted tothis particular means of permitting and guiding the movement of the caror boat within the rim, but reserve the liberty of modifying such meansand providing others, if desired, to accomplish the same result. The earE is equipped with a front dasher F and with a series of seats E E E,the seats being arranged therein in any suitable manner; also, the caris provided with means for looking it to any point on the wheels rim 1One example of such locking means is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, whereit is shown as consisting of devices arranged on the under side of thecar, comprising the central medial rod G, to which are pivoted thelevers g g g, which are fulerumed on the under side of the car by meansof pivot-pins g g". The outer ends of these levers g on either side ofthe car are connected by the side rails II II. In the ear E is a leverI, having the catch 2', that engages a notched segment I, said lever Iengaging at its lower end one end of the medial rod G, so that theconductor of the car may by a proper manipulation of the lever I actuatethe leverage just described and thereby thrust the lateral rails II IIoutward from the car into contact with the tracks Z) Z), as shown inFig. 5, or into contact with the sides of the trough or some other partof the rim 1 in such a manner as to securely and effectually lock thecar E at any desired point and hold the same in this locked position aslong as may be desired. Of course it is to be distinctly understood thatI am not restricted to any specific form of locking mechanism, but mayprovide any locking, clamping, or securing devices which will achievethe object in viewto wit that of temporarily connecting the car to apoint on the wheels rim, where it may be held until the time arrives torelease it.

The wheel A is designed to be rotated by means of some suitable engineorpower mechanism which will apply its power either to the shaft a or tothe rim 1) or to some other part of the wheel for the purpose ofrotating it slowly or fast, as may be desired. In the practical carryingout of my invention I purpose to provide a motor for the wheel which canbe readily controlled by the conductor in such a way that the wheel willbe given intermittent partial rotations, said partial r0- tations beingof the length sufficient to lift the car E from the position shown inFig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 3, or perhaps higher. Suppose, forinstance, that the wheel has been partially rotated, as just described,and the ear E lifted to the position shown in Fig. 8, it being clampedto the rim of the wheel during this partial rotation. If new the wheelis stopped with the car E in the position of Fig. 3 and the conductorreleases the clamping device, the ear E will be caused to sheet bygravity down the rim of the wheel in the direction shown by the arrowuntil it strikes the water with great force and with a terrificsplashing, thereby causing much excitement and consternation among theoccupants of the car, as well as amusement to them and to the onlookerswhen it is understood and perceived that such apparent violence ofmovement and splashing about of the water is attended with absolutely nodanger. I11 this movement the car IE will pass through the water and itsmomentum will be sufficient to carry it a short distance up the oppositeincline of the wheel-rim, and when it reaches the limit of its movementthe conductor will cause the clamping device to operate to hold the carfast to the rim at this extreme point. The conductor can then signal tothe engineer and cause the wheel to be given another partial rotation,which will carry the car again to the high point where it is indicatedin Fig. 3, and by a second release of the clamping device the car may beshot downward a second time under the action of gravity. Thus bysuccessive partial rotations of the wheel the car may be allowed toshoot several successive times down the incline of the wheel-rim. Atcertain of such times the car will shoot through one or the other of thetunnels C, thus adding to the excitement and amusement of the operationof the mechanism.

Thus far I have described the wheel as having but one trough or track inthe rim. It in u stbe understood, however, that, if desired,

said rim may have duplicate or triplicate troughs, or there may be anyother number arranged parallel to each other or otherwise, if desired.Furthermore, I can, if desired, have more than one rim or have acontinuous rim, a portion of which is eccentric to the axis of thewheel. In Fig. 8 I have shown one modification of my invention,consisting of a continuous track passing two or three times around theaxis of the wheel and being eccentric to said axis for a certaindistance. The operation of this form of the invention is substantiallythe same as that of the other form, excepting that the car may travelover a longer distance, and several cars may be used, if desired.

Having thus described myinvention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An amusement-Wheel, consisting of a tunnel-provided track-shaped rim,a gravity shooting car therein, and a clam ping device for locking thecar to the rim.

2. An amusement-wheel, consisting of a track-shaped rim, in combinationwith a gravity-movable car or boat in said rim, and an artificial pondor lake submerging the lowest part of the rim.

3. An amusement-wheel, consisting of a combined concentric and eccentricrim, which provides a continuous track passing two or more times aroundthe axis of the wheel, in combination with a gravity shooting carmovable on said track.

4. The combination of a rotary Wheel having its rim provided with atrack or Way, a shooting car on said rim, locking means for securing thecar to the rim, and an artificial body of water submerging the lowestpart of the rim.

5. The combination of a rotary wheel having its rim provided with atunnel and adapted to provide a track, a gravity shooting car on saidtrack, and means for temporarily securing the car to any desired pointof the rim.

6. The combination of a rotary wheel having a track-shaped rim providedwith one or more tunnels, a gravity shooting car in said rim, means forclamping the car to the rim at any desired point, and a body of waterwhich submerges the lowest part of the track and through which the carsplashes when it shoots.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT H. PATTEE. W'itnesses:

SAMUEL L. TAYLOR, CARL H. FAST.

